Advice please - needy 2 year old kitten - pregnant mummy(me!)

[Bumpiemalumpie]

Kitten has started being very needy, scratching me awake half way through the night, scratching our wicker chair when never before, then seeming to ignore me and not want to close to me.

I am guessing this is due to my hormones and increasing pregnancy but what can I do? I feel bad for shutting her out of the room and that only lasts one or two nights as she scratches and cries too much.

Advice please!! Also, please tell me this may get better when baby is born and not worse!!

[catameringue]

I don't know whether cats respond in that way. I haven't noticed change in my three since I got preggers but that's just mine.

It could be that:
A) most cats like destroying wicker. I found this out when I bought wicker baskets and a wicker cat bed. Major errors!
B) you're feeling a little guilty at your change in circumstance and therefore you could be projecting this anxiety onto your cat
C) cat is just going through a phase of wanting cuddles.
D) cat is confused by being shut out of the room, has cried for attention and you've rewarded that behaviour so she's learnt to do it every night.
E) cat is scratching chair to get a reaction out of you. Mine do naughty things when they want something, usually when they want me to play with them.

Or something else.

I think if you're intending on excluding her from bedroom when baby is here doing it now is sensible to get her used to it but then you can't give in. The miaowing is designed to sound as heart breaking as possible to get a rise from you. If she truly needed you it would be a very different type of mew.

Maybe you could play with her for a bit before bed to tire her out?

[Bumpiemalumpie]

bump

[livinginwonderland]

I think cats go through needy phases. I have a nearly 1-year old Tom and he is ridiculously needy sometimes. I just got back from a 2 week holiday and he spent all of yesterday parked on my lap and wanted cuddles and kisses and affection. But, go back a month and he wasn't interested, and in another two weeks he probably won't want to be picked up at all.

If you're anxious about the pregnancy, you might be projecting onto her. If you want her out of the bedroom, stick to it. Our cats aren't allowed in our room at night 'cause they chew through all the cables, and they sit outside the door and scratch and mew, but they just want attention. They're not deprived or upset or sick, they just want to play.

[nannynome]

My cat has been driving me crazy since I got pregnant :( she went from a cat who didn't want to know me to a cat who shouts at me constantly until I lie down on the bed. If I am not lying down she is not happy with me and I get told off. It started a couple of weekend before DH and I knew about pregnancy and hasn't let up (now 34+3) If she doesn't stop after the baby is born I may lose the plot entirely ;) she is 4 years old and has never acted this crazy.

It isn't helping that we are just in the process of moving house so will have to deal with that too in the next month or so with her :( although with more outside space she may find more things to occupy her (mice to bring me as gory gifts!)

I will let you know how she gets on once the baby arrives in 5 or so weeks.

[cozietoesie]

Actually, I think that's kind of sweet - and Oh So protective. Have you had a difficult pregnancy ? (The lying down from early days.)

[nannynome]

Op or me? From my side I haven't been lying down from early days, have just been shouted at til I do! I get in from work, get shouted at for 2-3 hours and then she stops when I get into bed lol. Shouting is either angry or plaintive. She also bops me with her paw when I pass her and ignore shouting... It is getting a bit tiresome haha poor DH is going to lose his marbles at this rate!

[cozietoesie]

You.

[nannynome]

it would be sweet if it wasn't so incessant! 8 months down the line I am ready to do something drastic to her :D she will be through the cat flap in a min, having spent all night out prowling around, just as I am due to get up to resume her main job of shouting again ;)

[sashh]

Nanny she loves you, knows you are pregnant and wants the best.

You obviously have not made a nest so she is telling you the next best thin, lie down.

[nannynome]

As soon as we have finished moving house this week I promise I shall make a nest... Or possibly a cat proof cushion fort ;)

[Bumpiemalumpie]

thanks all.

cosie, it sounds cute doesn't it?! do you want her!!

my poor kitten, I think she is a mn'r as she started to calm following my post. However, the other day she came for a cuddle, got kicked and ran off. Now she just follows me everywhere, thankfully she isn't too vocal!!

[nannynome]

Maybe I can make the baby kick her and see if she will stop shouting, I could cope with being followed :)